5129frederick is fine and ........................

[dark_castle1]

in his words "would rather read the news than be it".

I know someone missed him posting and thought I would bring you up to date with him. At least he was missed.

[fishpieface]

It's true, I also have to complete the equivalent of five days' classroom training every five

years to keep my CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence) and be allowed to drive a coach.

I also have to be CRB check by the Council who contracts the school work to confirm that I haven't

got a criminal record or am a paedophile.  Luckily my boss paid for it all and am hoping my new

boss will too when I next have to renew.

Nothing to be ashamed of Dark Castle, for driving a lorry, on the contrary.  Although driving for a living

does have its negative points, on the whole, for me anyway, it's a great job and I wouldn't want to do

anything else.

[rose2008-2008]

---

@saasher2012 wrote:
xxxxx hiya Rose , are you feeling a bit more like yourself today? I hope so then you can cheer me up!. lol.

---

Im ok ,,bit heady cos its quite Humid this morning and very dusty where i work as their builders are still there!!!.

[saasher2012]

So in theory then it's who you work for determines if you have to pay for your own or not?

[fishpieface]

Yes, I guess it is Saasher.

This CPC thing only came in five years ago and all professional drivers have to have it by this month (they

realised how many they'd have to put through the courses so allowed some years to get started).  All new

drivers (lorry or coach/bus take it automatically as part of their test but drivers who have been doing the

job for many years have all had to do it too.  Some of it's useful, the bits about changes to the laws relating

to our jobs - keeps everyone up to date, but some of it is a load of old x@@@***!

[saasher2012]

Hmmmm, so forgive me if you went for another driving job & they didn't pay, would you have to not only pay but take the tests again or once you have the certificates to prove you have paid & past are the certificates then your property?

[dark_castle1]

Sam, once you have passed the certificates are yours as they are non transferable, the only thing you must do is within the next five years is pass the test again costing more money or in my case two tests as I need the ADR as well to allow me to carry above a certain weight of dangerous goods. Things that could go BANG or dissolve you etc    . You can take your certificates with you if you went for another job but at my age no one really wants to know.

[saasher2012]

I see Thanks for clarifying that for me, & yes I can see why that's a " better the Devil you know " situation for you. Still doesn't make it fair though does it?

[dark_castle1]

In the scheme of things I suppose not Sam but maybe it is a generation thing that I would rather pay it and work than sit about the house idle collecting dole money.

I may come off the road at 65 as I do not see the point of paying all that money for just one year as I can retire at 66 even though I cannot afford it but by then will likely not really be fit enough to do the work I do at the moment.

[saasher2012]

I'm sad to say I agree with you, but it also think it's a pride thing as well, knowing that you are working & even if the money isn't all that good You can turn round & say I've done my best & what I've got I earned ?.
I must say when I'm out at all hours on the road most of the lorry drivers I've come across have always been very nice to me!.

[dark_castle1]

That will likely be because you are a nice person and lorry drivers mostly see people out on the road at silly o'clock as being like them trying to make a crust.

The only thing that annoys me sometimes is if you are parked up day or night and have your curtains closed trying to get some kip and a car pulls into the layby with music blaring and doors being slammed shut waking you. I usually try and sort my run so I am driving at night as you get a lot further with less hassle.

[saasher2012]

lol. Well I'm not guilty of that offence at least, I tend to stay clear of em! & the last thing I need is blaring music, but I take your point it must be very irritating!.

[dark_castle1]

Do not get me wrong Sam, I do not hate music but I am more the Meatloaf generation and what they listen to nowadays I call boom boom music with no tune to it.

Again the generation gap looms its head   

One thing though Sam even if you had blaring music it would not disturb your patients    

[saasher2012]

lol. Very true but that doesn't stop me talking to them! lol.

[dark_castle1]

Talking to them is fine Sam ! It is when you think they are talking back and you start having conversations with them      

[saasher2012]

lol. Oh dear! I'm in big trouble then! lol.

[mouse4702]

Don't worry Sam - I have long conversations with the kettle.

[rose2008-2008]

I have long conversations with the CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[dark_castle1]

I talk to myself ! Well it seems that way in the house because I can say something and the usual response is "what did you say" !!!

[rainydaywoman11]

Corgi, you asked me on another thread recently about driving in Edinburgh.  I don't have to go into the centre, my destination is off Easter Road, so I get to the airport turn off, left, past Ingliston until I reach the mess that is all the Gyle junctions.  I squeeze into the left hand lane and turn left onto Ferry Road, which I follow all the way round, past the Bristo Baptist Church keep right at the garage, cross the Dean Bridge and then make a left onto Palmerston Place (I think), down King James St, take another left and I'm on Queens Road.   We leave the car in Albion Road and get a taxi into town (about £7).

I haven't been into the centre for yonks, tell you what tho', saw 4 of those lovely trams, 2 going in ands 2 coming back - and only 1 passenger - oh dear.

Have you seen what they've done to the A9?  Have a look at Gleneagles Station - road entrance all changed and tonight they are lowering a temporary bridge across the A9, for all the hob nobs going to the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles.  (So the road's closed).

We have fibre optic broadband and all the roads roundabout us have been resurfaced (after they put in new water pipes).  Remember the wee ramshackle cottage that used to sit right at the roundabout to the back entrance of Gleneagles - gone - and all those big sheds which have been there forever.  Locals reckon for more Ryder Cup parking.  The money being spent is phenomenal - there is a 3 storey temporary structure at the first tee as well, it's massive.

It's like the Queen coming, you know, guys with pots of emulsion half a mile in front   Told ya before, come and have a cuppa